Plant-protector.



F.S.ERDLY. PLANT PROTEOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1909.

951 ,807. Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

m th bums gal/24m FTCE.

FRANK S. ERDLY, 0F JERSEY SHORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLANT-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1909.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 509,830.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK S.-ERDLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Jersey Shore, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plant-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to horticulture and has particular reference to devices used for the temporary protection of growing plants.

It is well known that those plants which are desired to be started or set out early in the season are in danger of being damaged by frosts or exposure to severe elements, and also it is frequently desirable to protect newly set out plants from the direct rays of the sun.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a protector of the character above set forth which shall be cheap to construct, strong and durable in use, and one which is adapted to be collapsed so that a large number of them may be packed away so as to occupy a small space when not in use.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be made to appear as this description progresses, and reference is to be had to the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of the clevice with the top thrown back; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view with the top closed, and Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing the device collapsed.

Throughout the detail description and on the several figures of the drawings similar parts are referred to by like reference char acters.

A device made in accordance with this invention may be of any suitable size or dimensions, and the materials may be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit thereof.

As illustrated the device comprises a plurality of supporting legs 10, the lower ends of which are adapted to be stuck into the ground and surrounding the plant to be protected. The device also includes hoops or bands 11 arranged in horizontal and substantially parallel relation to one another. Each of the bands consists of a stationary section 11 permanently connected in any suitable manner to several of the legs 10, and also a movable section 11 pivoted to the ends of the stationary section. The movable section is preferably slightly shorter than the stationary section so that when moved upon its pivot-s 12 it swings within the said stationary section. The bands 11 are preferably constructed of a cheap grade of sheet metal and may be cut therefrom rapidly and cheaply by any suitable process of shearing or stamping well understood in the art of sheet metal operations. Two of the legs 10 are connected to the stationary sections of the bands by having their upper ends passed through holes in the uppermost band and bent thereover and are connected to the other bands by passing through slitted portions thereof as indicated at 11. The leg 10, not connected with the stationary sections of the bands, is provided with means, shown as bends or offsets 10*, with which the movable sections 11" of the bands are adapted to engage and interlock, whereby the same are held in normal extended or open position. A cover 13 consisting of a cheap but strong quality of fabric surrounds the legs and bands and is permanently connected thereto in any suitable manner. As indicated the stationary sections 11 are stamped so as to provide penetrating tongues or prongs 14:, which pass through and clench upon the outside of the cover. The cover is not connected to the movable sections 11*, but is permanently connected to the leg 10 where by said leg is maintained in proper position for interlocking engagement with said movable sections in the manner above described, when the bands are extended. That portion of the cover opposite the stationary sections 11 together with the leg 10 are movable inwardly against the stationary sections when in collapsed positions. By this construction a large number of the devices may be nested or packed so as to occupy a small amount of space. The cover 13 extends over all of the bands and to any suitable or desired distance below the lowermost band.

For mostpurposes it is desirable to provide a top for the protector, and to this end a substantially circular frame of wire or the like is provided and attached. The frame 15 may preferably be constructed of wire and as a cheap and convenient means for attaching said top to the main part of the device one of the ends of the wire of the frame 15 may be bent into a loop or eye 15, as indicated, so as to cooperate with an eye 10 at the upper end of the leg 10. By this means the top may be thrown open during a part of the day if desired. The part of the frame 15 opposite the loop 15' is preferably formed in a hook or catch 15 adapted to extend downwardly to interlock with the top band 11 so as to hold the top closed. The top will preferably include a section of canas or fabric 16. Said top fabric 16 may be connected permanently to the frame 15 in any convenient or desired manner as by the use of stitches or staples. The loop or eye 15 is preferably so arranged that the top may be disconnected from the other part of the protector if desired either for storage purposes or in case it is not desired to use the top.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a plurality of supporting legs to be stuck into the ground, a plurality of bands cooperating with said legs, each of said bands comprising a stationary and a movable section pivoted together, means for connecting the stationary sections of the bands to certain of said legs, means to cause interlocking engagement with the movable sections of the bands to the leg not so connected, and a cover for the device surrounding said legs and bands and permanently connected to the bands.

2. In a plant protector, the combination of a plurality of legs, a plurality of bands cooperating with said legs, a cover surrounding said legs and bands and connected thereto, one of said legs extending upwardly above the others and terminating in an eye, and a top comprising a wire frame having a'loop for connection with said eye and a vertically disposed catch for cooperation with the uppermost band, and a section of fabric attached to said frame.

3. In a plant protector, the combination of three supporting legs, a plurality of bands cooperating therewith, each of said bands having a stationary section and a movable section pivoted thereto on the inner side thereof, two of said legs being permanently attached to the stationary sections of the bands by passing therethrough, a cover for the device surrounding said legs and bands and permanently connected to that leg which is not connected to the bands, the last mentioned leg being formed with off-sets for interlocking cooperation with the movable sections of the bands, and a top for the device hinged to said last mentioned leg.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK S. ERDLY.

Vitnesses J. HENRY BowER, I-IoRAcn D. TAYNTON. 

